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How many stopsets?

R

RadioDad08

Guest
Taking a little poll... how many stopsets do you run, (not am drive) let's say 10a-7p?

Two longer breaks? 3 shorter breaks? I'm trying to figure out pros and cons. :)
 
We tend to do two medium-length stopsets just before the top and bottom of each hour, with a third stopset around :40 past when absolutely necessary. No more than three.

I guess I don't read too much into pros and cons with stopsets, just as long as they are separated enough to not run into each other on heavy commercial load days. There is nothing worse than hearing a station that takes a commercial break, plays one song, then stops down for another break. With our automation system, I make use of sync codes to drop songs so that the stopsets run on time. We may lose one song in a music set, but it's better than having commercial breaks crowded together and playing fewer songs later.
 
It's a market-by-market decision, but that being said...

Every study I have ever seen indicated "units" are more important to listeners than "minutes".

Most listeners will sit through a 4-5 minute stop set twice an hour. You want to run more than 10 or 11 units per hour in 3 or more sets, take your chances.

BTW: let this instructor of broadcasting give you a bit of history here. In the 1960's, it was common practice for stations to air 18-22 minutes of commercials per hour. Plus newscasts at the top and bottom of the hour. So 10 or 11 units per hour is a dramatic decrease in the number of spots from what used to air. Today's generation of listeners should count their blessings. You can't cut much more than that...and still make money. (Without something else given here.)
 
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